Beginning with a random part-time job and conquered Hollywood: the history of ucrani in the USA
'11.09.2018'
Source: Correspondent
Anna Harkovchanka Anna Violin began to conquer Hollywood with occasional part-time work. Now America and Europe are laughing at her comedy web series Behind the Blinds AKA Filmmaking 101.
“A huge plus is that if you want to work on a film set in the USA, you will work there. Maybe not immediately as a director, maybe not immediately on the site where you want to be a director or producer, but you will be given such an opportunity, - says Anna at the beginning of a conversation with Elena Marchenko for the magazine Correspondent.
- When I just started working, I noticed for myself how open everything here is. I just come and say: “I would like to be present at your shooting, to see how you work”. And they answer me: "No problem."
People are open, happy to share, help, leave their contacts. But here, in order to achieve something, you need to work long, hard and purposefully, sometimes for days.
People are open, happy to share, help, leave their contacts. Personally, I see a big plus in such openness. And I have not yet come across minuses. But I managed to notice that here, in order to achieve something, you need to work long, hard and purposefully, sometimes for days. And if you received a project that will go on for three months, you should already now look for a new project that you will be working on for the fourth month. Otherwise, you fall out of the cage - and this is equivalent to a catastrophe. "
The series in six days
"Backstage, or a movie for dummies" - this is the translation of the title of the series. However, it has not yet been translated into Russian. But there are translations into Ukrainian, French, Spanish and Hebrew - in different countries of the world, the public laughs at a comedy about two gangsters from Eastern Europe who are trying to shoot a series according to instructions from the Internet in order to launder money. Each series is 6-7 minutes long. Is a web series format. "Great concept and execution!" - the very first review on the Youtube channel, where the series is broadcast. Without exaggeration, this is a success and a huge experience for Anna, who tried herself in directing back in Ukraine.
- I studied directing at the Kiev Institute of Culture. While I was graduating from university and defending my dissertation, I worked on TV in Kharkov, I had my own small program. I loved being both behind the camera and in front of the camera.
At the Institute of Culture, I shot a short film "Boy, Butterflies, Flowers" - a picture of how a nine-year-old boy learned the world of girls. There was a film festival in Kharkov, where my film won first place - this greatly added to my self-confidence.
Soon I filled out an application for an education in the United States, an invitation came and I got ... to the New York Film Academy! Received a second degree (master's), moved to Los Angeles and have been living here for 5 years. During this time, she shot four films, took part in the Cannes Film Festival. But Cinema for dummies is a completely different story.
- Where do your heroes come from? Are they Ukrainians?
- We do not focus on their origin, we simply indicate that they are from Eastern Europe.
How did the idea for the series come to you?
- I have a good friend and colleague Charles Ansel. We studied together with him and began to work. Once he shared an idea - to shoot a sketch of how everything can go to hell on the set. He proposed this idea to me and another friend of mine, editor Adrian Morales Ramos.
Initially, we planned a short film, but then we decided to make it a serial. We got a comedy of situations. The main characters - Anton and Sergey - constantly fall into unusual circumstances and are looking for a way out of them. We play on stereotypes. Plus, if you remember the old French films with Pierre Richard or Louis de Funes - there comic characters take themselves very seriously. This adds to their comic. Began to think about, look for an investor, get ready for shooting.
The series was shot in six days, then we finished it for three months and waited another three months to release it.
When a person comes to Youtube and he is offered to watch a short film, usually the viewer believes that this will be a poor quality film made on an iPhone with non-professional actors. We approached the process with full responsibility. Both of my friends were directors, I was a producer, for the project they took professional actors.
- Some of the directors noticed that making people laugh in the cinema is a very difficult task. Humor is usually aimed at a specific group of people, the rest is simply not funny.
- What is interesting about our production is, in particular, its multinationality. We were really worried that the American audience would not be funny, not interested. Therefore, they invited different people, did research. In the end, with humor, we did well. The Americans liked our hero Anton. But we initially understood that they would watch us not only in the United States, but also in Europe, Ukraine, and Russia. One fairly well-known Russian actor recently spoke to me, maybe we will shoot him in the second season.
Chance for independent cinema
- Can you compare Hollywood with Ukrainian cinema? Is there something in common and what are the main differences?
- When I came to the USA, everything seemed to me different. It is difficult to compare with Ukraine even now. At home, when I was shooting my first short film, many friends and mentors helped me. Here everything had to be done independently, however, I had my group, that is, I was not alone, but together with like-minded people, I joined the world of professional cinema.
There is no turmoil, confusion, unnecessary delays. And, it does not matter, student is a playground or professional. Everyone does his job very clearly and knows what he is doing.
I immediately liked that the Americans respect the protocol on the set, that is, every person in his 12-hour workday performs a clearly set and feasible task. There is no turmoil, confusion, unnecessary delays. Moreover, it does not matter whether the student is a playground or a professional one. Everyone does his job very clearly and knows what he is doing. At the same time, you can not do in art without adding creativity at the last moment. Here, their creative proposals are also made very gradually, in an organized manner, and this gives good results.
- You have lived in Los Angeles for five years. Have you noticed how Hollywood is changing? Probably everything happens very quickly here, isn't it?
- Yes, Hollywood is changing. Now - under the influence of Internet technologies in the first place. Before, for example, the Hollywood fame of the agency and connections mattered. And today they still play a role, but still they are gradually receding.
Independent cinema has received great opportunities. It happens that for 1% of the budget of a blockbuster, an unknown director makes a film that simply blows up the audience. Such pictures can give a director a great career start. Every year in Hollywood there are more and more opportunities - festivals, shows and other events where you can show what you are capable of. Everything is not the same as before, when it was insanely difficult to break through. Now go, try, hook the audience - and get glory.
- Do you have any favorite TV shows?
- In the evenings, when I have time, I watch the series "Silicon Valley" and "Episodes". From ours I love "Lesya + Roma".
Our enormous ability to work
- Do you keep in touch with your homeland?
- Of course, I have a family in Kharkov - we talk every evening. I am very worried about what is happening here, I want to come home and I will definitely break free. I also really want to tell the talented Ukrainian youth that the whole world is open to them.
We have a lot of gifted children who do not know how to self-realize, get through - and there are many programs where they invite, teach, give work and a chance
We have a lot of gifted children who do not know how to self-realize, get through - and here there are many programs where they invite, teach, give work and a chance. I could help them with this, suggest, advise - after all, I have already passed all this way. Ukraine has very well declared itself, having nominated for the Oscar the film “Winter in Fire”. In cinema circles began to talk about our country, its potential.
Americans believe that we have a peculiar mentality and at the same time a great work capacity. That is, they treat us with sympathy. However, Ukrainians often lack information, people are afraid to try, start, knock on a closed door. That person has a dream - to live and work in Hollywood. But how to implement it, he does not know. But there are solutions!
- Do you have to meet with Ukrainians in the USA? Work with them?
- Yes, there are many Ukrainians here. But for some reason we do not consider it necessary to stick together, we do not clump together. Now I am working with one girl from Ukraine - Natasha. She is a good professional, hardworking, and I want to cooperate with her. I hear the exact same responses from people of all backgrounds. If they started working with Ukrainians, they want to continue. Here I have not heard the phrase from anyone: Ukrainians do not work well. They say so about many, but not about us.
- Do you also have a big American dream?
- Yes, I would really like to make a full-length film about ballet, which I adore.
